Featured photo: The Tree Houses of Skamania Lodge. Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail can mean a chance to explore new destinations – and new accommodations.
Not long ago, a headline touting charming towns and eco-friendly lodging on the Pacific Crest Trail might have raised some eyebrows. Hikers in the early aughts weren’t in it for the comforts.
A single memoir changed all that, of course. Following the release of Wild by Cheryl Strayed, annual permit requests jumped from about 300 in 2006 to more than 4,000 in 2016.
This growing interest, which has endured even through COVID-19, has inspired more varied experiences than the traditional gritty thru-hike. Curious trekkers can now find guided tours, scenic lodges, and historic destinations along the way that have thrived with a healthy wave of traffic — and longer stays in one place.
In 2021, there’s another reason to consider a slower, shorter, and more thoughtful route on the PCT. The chaos of COVID-induced shutdowns throughout 2020 have meant less maintenance on the trail itself and fewer thru-hiking permits. The Pacific Crest Trail Association has not yet finalized plans for the 2021 season, but encourages patience:
“To succeed in 2021, you must accept uncertainty and a tougher, less social, more self-sustained trip,” PCTA staff wrote in a statement on the website. “We recommend postponing long-distance travel on the PCT until 2022.”
Read the full statement and guidance on COVID-19.
If you feel the pull of the PCT, this guide is meant to inspire future bucket list trips with suggestions for shorter, more leisurely treks that you can take this year. Here’s everything you need to know about hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2021.
